New SNAP Work Requirements Put Millions at Risk of Losing Food Assistance
How expanded federal work rules and inconsistent state implementation threaten the stability of food aid for vulnerable American households.
After Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits for November resumed following the government shutdown, millions of recipients now face a new obstacle that may deprive them of essential food support in the coming months. States have begun implementing expanded work requirements outlined in the “Big and Beautiful Bill,” introduced by Republicans and signed by President Donald Trump earlier this summer.
According to CNN, under the new legislation, individuals enrolled in SNAP must work, volunteer, or participate in job training for at least 80 hours per month. Those who fail to meet the requirement will only be eligible for benefits for three months out of every three years. The Congressional Budget Office estimates that these rules will reduce the number of beneficiaries by 2.4 million people over the next decade, including 300,000 households with children.
The changes expand the work requirement to include beneficiaries up to age 64, as well as parents of children aged 14 to 17, veterans, individuals experiencing homelessness, and youth formerly in foster care. The rules also tighten the process for requesting exemptions, which now apply only to regions with unemployment rates above 10%.
States Struggle to Enforce New SNAP Work Rules Amid Confusion
Although the U.S. Department of Agriculture confirmed that the rules took effect on July 4, states were given until November 1 to begin enforcement. Experts warn that implementation has been chaotic, especially after the shutdown disrupted payment systems. Lauren Bauer, a researcher at the Brookings Institution, said: “There is a tremendous amount of confusion and major discrepancies between states in how they are applying the rules.”
A federal judge in Rhode Island temporarily blocked the department from ending existing exemptions before their scheduled expiration, and the agency has yet to release clear guidance on the ruling. Chloe Green from the American Public Human Services Association noted that many recipients were not notified in advance of the new work requirements, causing widespread concern.
The three-month period during which recipients may receive benefits without meeting the work requirement typically begins when they first apply or when they re-certify; however, some states are reviewing all enrollees at once, potentially causing sudden loss of benefits.
As states move forward with enforcement, they face additional risks. The legislation requires states to shoulder a greater share of administrative costs if payment error rates increase. Experts fear that the speed and scale of the changes could create “unintended consequences” across the food-assistance system, leaving millions of Americans facing new challenges in securing their daily meals.
